STORM WATCH: Nice evening on Long Island ahead of a wet and cooler weekend
Any outdoor plans this evening will be fine, but you will need the rain gear most of this weekend.
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THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT
After a gorgeous Friday afternoon with highs in the 50s to low 60s, clouds will gradually increase this evening and tonight. It stays dry this evening with temperatures cooling down into the 40s. Have a light jacket for this evening.
Expect a mostly cloudy sky overnight with spotty light showers developing into Saturday morning. Overnight lows will be in the upper 30s to middle 40s.
WEEKEND RAIN
Saturday brings rain, especially during the afternoon, with highs in the lower 50s. The morning will start with more spotty showers and drizzle and even some breaks of sun, mainly east. The afternoon and evening will feature steadier rain. One to two inches of rain will be possible into Sunday morning. We do need the rain on Long Island, but unfortunately, it can cancel outdoor plans on Saturday and Sunday.
The question for Sunday is, "When will the rain end?" Overall, the rain will taper off into the afternoon on Sunday. Some weather computer guidance models, as of Friday evening, keep it wet through Sunday evening, especially across the East End of Long Island. News 12 Meteorologists will be tracking the rain for you all weekend.
DROUGHT UPDATE
We do still need the rain, but it is just poorly timed for weekend plans. Thursday's update to the drought monitor shows western Nassau County is still in a moderate drought. This area has expanded slightly on Long Island since last Thursday. The rest of Long Island is still seeing pre-drought, yet abnormally dry conditions. Looking ahead, the weather pattern looks like it will bring more rain chances to Long Island. Depending on how long that lasts and exactly how much rain falls, this could help the drier-than-normal conditions a bit over the next few weeks.
EXTENDED FORECAST
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, chance of showers after midnight. Low around 42. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
Saturday: A spotty shower or two in the morning, with steadier showers during the afternoon. Breezy and cool. Highs only near 50. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night: Cloudy with Rain. Low around 40. East wind 5 to 15 mph.
Sunday: Rain likely, mainly before noon. Be alert, the rain may linger longer in the day. Mostly cloudy. Breezy and cool. High near 53. Northeast wind 10 to 20 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
